Bronze Age Cemetery near Glasgow

Abstract

AN important addition to the record of recent finds of prehistoric age in the neighbourhood of Glasgow is a bronze age cemetery site at Springhill Farm, Baillieston, identified and examined by Mr. J. Harrison Maxwell and other members of the Glasgow Archaeological Society. The first indication of the site was the unearthing of two food vessels in May last by workmen, when excavating a hillock for sand and gravel. Of these two vessels, one, according to a description in The Times of December 21, was in perfect condition. It was hand-made and of reddish brown clay, with two zones of decoration made by string impression, the upper zone in horizontal, the lower in vertical or slightly oblique lines. The second vessel, unfortunately broken by the workman in digging, but now skilfully restored, is of a more elaborate and beautiful character. Its rim is bevelled inward, and for ornament it has an upper zone of decoration formed by horizontal rows of impressions of barley ears, while elsewhere are impressions or punch marks made by the end of a hollow bone, stick or reed. This discovery led to a careful watch on the progress of excavation, and a number of burials, seven cremated and two inhumed, were recorded. The most important discovery, however, was that of a bronze age cist of unusual type in that instead of two long and two short stones, it is built of a large number of small stones and is tongue-shaped, about four feet long and two feet broad at its greatest breadth. The cover consisted of two large stones, that to the south being very, thick, while that to the north had an oblong cut-out on the east side. The floor was a pavement of water-rolled pebbles. There were two cremation burials on top of, and two inside the cist. Discoveries of bones and a burial were made in November and December, of which the latest has not yet been excavated. The bones are under examination. Two square-shaped pits containing iron slag point to the existence of a later ‘bloomery’ or forge.